How to Pack Prescription Medicines for Air Travel

When you travel on a commercial airline with certain prescription medicines, you need to familiarize yourself with current air travel guidelines. Packing for any trip may seem like a daunting task, but going through airport security is much easier if you pack your carry-on bag correctly at home. Packing your prescription medicines the right way will make your entire experience with security at the airport much more efficient.

 1Review policies for your specific airline. In the event that your checked luggage is lost or stolen, you can and should pack your prescription medicines in a carry-on. If you have your medication with you on the plane, you will be able to maintain your medications while you are away from home.

Policies regarding air travel are constantly changing, so it is a good idea to check the website of your airline for their carry-on limitations. The policy will indicate how many carry-ons you are allowed, and what sizes the airlines permit on flights. If you have any questions regarding policies and procedures contact the airline directly.

2Decide which prescription medications you will need during your trip. Remember to leave prescription medications in their original bottles with original labels intact. Never combine your prescription medications in bottles for air travel. Pack the items in a single clear plastic zip-top bag to keep them together. Store them in your carry-on. It is a good idea to store things you need to access during the flight in a small carry-on, which airlines refer to as a "personal item". Store that bag under your seat.

3Pack non-medical liquids, gels and aerosols in a plastic zip-top bag. Security officers will ask you to remove this bag from your carry-on at the airport. Place the plastic bag in a bin, and send it through to be scanned by the X-ray machine. According to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) current guidelines, "3-1-1 for carry-ons = 3.4 ounce (100ml) bottle or less (by volume); 1 quart-sized, clear, plastic, zip-top bag; 1 bag per passenger placed in screening bin. One-quart bag per person limits the total liquid volume each traveler can bring. 3.4 ounce (100ml) container size is a security measure."

In theory, if you have a prescription bottle of liquid like cough syrup that is less than 3.4 ounces, you can place it into this bag.

4Pack insulin and essential medical items over 3.4 ounces in a carry-on; these items are allowable. Take them out of your carry-on when you reach the security checkpoint. According to TSA, "Medications, baby formula and food and breast milk are allowed in reasonable quantities exceeding 3 ounces and are not required to be in the zip-top bag. Declare these items for inspection at the checkpoint." As long as you notify security at the checkpoint, you will be fine.